The 17 page Gazelle Index Report on Minority, Women and Small Business Outlook for 2012 is now available. The report analyzes the economy and the outlook for minority and women businesses.
The 2012 Outlook for women-owned businesses is positive; 26.1% will increase hiring in the first quarter of 2012 while only 13.3% will decrease hiring. Women business hiring will be strongest in the South and Midwest and especially in Information Technology related industries.
Women business owners are gloomy about the economy but plan to increase hiring in 2012. Their two most important strategic objectives are improving management efficiency and product and service quality.
African American small business CEOs expressed the greatest optimism about the economy’s future and they plan to engage in the more hiring over the next three months than will any other race or ethnic group.
